Bonfire plea to save hedgehogs

Deborah Punshon

TV personality Ben Fogle is backing a bonfire night plea to save hedgehogs from unnecessary death and injury.

Ben is supporting the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) call that bonfires should not be built until the day they are going to be lit.

The society say the move will not only save wildlife from burning to death but will also stop the bonfire from getting soaked if it rain the night before.

Fay Vass, chief executive of BHPS said “Piles of bonfire material look like five-star hotels to a hedgehog in search of a hibernation site.

“It is important to dismantle and move bonfire material that has been stored in advance on open ground.

Move it to another spot just before lighting. Ensure it’s moved to clear ground - never on top of a pile of leaves as there could be a hedgehog underneath, and not too close to pampas grass which can ignite very easily and is another favourite spot for hedgehogs to hide under.”